Marathon fundraiser to benefit little Lucia
Sharon Hayes (Bank of Ireland) from Galbally, Limerick alongside running mates Ben Murphy, Kilfinane (Irish Defence Forces) and Annie Dawson, Elton (Brothers of Charity) are aiming to take on The Berlin Marathon this September for a cause very close to Sharon’s heart. “My cousin Paul Bourke and his wife Ashley Ryan have a beautiful baby daughter Lucia, and we are running to raise funds for the Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation, who provides in-home nursing care for Lucia,” explains Sharon.
Lucia was born last October with a rare chromosomal abnormality called 22Q11 syndrome which brings physical and developmental problems, she also has Tetralogy of Fallot with Pulmonary Atresia, which means she has very a complex congenital heart defect.
Lucia requires 24-hour care and thankfully is doing really well at home. The Jack and Jill Children's Foundation has played a huge part in supporting Paul and Ashley in caring for Lucia, organising nurses to give at home support as they care for Lucia and her complex needs.
Lucia is scheduled for significant heart surgery in the next few months and Paul and Ashley don't know what's around the corner. Lucia is much loved and adored by all her family and friends and in Ashley's words "we are blessed with our beautiful daughter, and she is just perfect in our eyes". In advance of Lucia’s upcoming surgery, the family have been limiting their contact with others to minimise any exposure to viruses, so all of Lucia’s care regime is managed by either parent or a Jack and Jill nurse. In fact, Sharon has only met baby Lucia once in her first year despite living only two miles from the Kilross-based family. ‘If it wasn’t for Jack and Jill nurses taking care of Lucia, Paul and Ashley would be really isolated,’ Sharon explains. "By having those hours of respite, it gives them an opportunity to take time for themselves or to do the things the rest of us take for granted. In fact, only by having a Jack and Jill nurse to look after Lucia meant that both Paul and Ashley were able to attend two very important funerals this year, as sadly both Ashley’s grandmother and Paul’s father both passed away earlier this year."
Alie Sheridan, Head of Fundraising at Jack and Jill said: “We are always blown away when people take on significant challenges like marathons to support families just like the Bourkes. Jack and Jill currently supports 13 families in Tipperary and 23 in Limerick, in fact since we were founded in 1997 we have provided in-home nursing care and respite support to 233 families across the two counties. We really appreciate the lengths families under our care, past and present, go to, to support Jack and Jill right back. By taking on this challenge and committing to a tough training schedule Sharon and her friends are not only celebrating beautiful Lucia they are also help raise vital funds and awareness of the service we provide to over 400 families in Ireland.”
Sharon, Annie and Ben are looking forward to taking on the challenge of The Berlin Marathon and are urging people to help support their fundraising drive. “Paul and Ashely are well known within their community, and we hope to raise as much funds as we can to give back to Jack and Jill, an organisation who has helped our family so much,” said Sharon. Those wishing to donate can do so via at www.idonate.ie